Wow, I never thought I would ever say that, much less write about it – being married. Marriage is a social contract between 2 people (I beleive of the opposite sex), who enter a verbal commitment to spend their lives together until death. Sometimes, it turns into a wish list for ‘death now’.  But I’ve come to realize that marriage is a relationship that requires work, commitment, and forgiveness. There was a time that I was lazy. I didn’t want to work. I wanted her to be “commited’. And I certainly wasn’t going to forgive. But now, I find pleasure in the work of marriage. I know now I’m the one who should have been “commited”, and I’m definitely the one in need of forgiveness.  Do you want a successful marriage? Or, do you just want to quit, divorce, and then do it all over again?  Here are some things that might help in your marriage. Learn to adjust to one another, rather than always trying to change the other. Share what you have; try “ours”, instead of mine and yours. Communicate. Nothing can be achieved without talking to each other. Look for things to agree on rather than automatically disagreeing. Try not to blame one another. Be willing to compromise on issues. Don’t fret about who’s right or wrong. Encourage each other in the things that are of individual interest. Allow time alone so that the times together can be more enjoyable. Practice trust. And remember, to keep trust, each must be trusted. Respect each other. Nothing will cause division quicker than not respecting your mate. And lastly, teach your values to your children. If they have the positive affirmation of your commitment, chances are they will succeed in their choices as well.